Livestock feeder

ABSTRACT

A wagon feeder for livestock having feed troughs extending along both sides thereof, with the feed troughs being divided by upright plates into horizontally spaced feed compartments which communicate with flat feed accumulating and feeding floor segments interiorly of the feeder through open bottom portions of upright side walls of the feeder. The open portions of the feeder side walls are divided into a plurality of livestock feeding spaces within each of the feeding compartments by upright bars.

llnite States atet' Feterl Jan. 1, 1974 LIVESTOCK FEEDER 2,290,0427/1942 Granville 119/52 R [76] Inventor: Leon G. Feterl, Salem, S. Dak.

29676 Primary ExammerHugh R. Chamblee Attorney-George F. Williamson etal. [22] Filed: Dec. 23, 1971 1 21 Appl. No.: 211,293 ABSTRACT A wagonfeeder for livestock having feed troughs ex- [52] us Cl. 119/52 R 119/58 tending along both sides thereof, with the feed troughs 51 1111.c1 A01 k 05/00 being divided by upright Plates hmiwmahy 58 Field ofSearch 119/52 R 53 53.5 Spaced feed COmPartmehts which mmuhicate Whh /5flat feed accumulating and feeding floor segments interiorly of thefeeder through open bottom portions of [56] References Cited uprightside walls of the feeder. The open portions of UNITED STATES PATENTS thefeeder side Walls are divided into a plurality of l 36 660 lz/ig o Ad I119/53 X livestock feeding spaces within each of the feeding XX 8': a2,827,876 3/1958 Trobaugh 119/52 R compartments by upnght bars l,335,l553/1920 Brown ll9/53 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENTEBJAN H974 sum 1or 2' I N VENT OR. Leon g fterl BY PATENTEU 3,782,333

- sum 2 or z 74 72 8 74 66 4 BFIUGQ 5 Z 82 78 1 N VENTOR. Leon 9. Peter!LIVESTOCK FEEDER BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention isdirected to a livestock. feeder parituclarly characterized by an easilyassembled feed storage floor, side wall and guide baffle structure whichprovide a large number of readily accessible, separated feeding zonesfor livestock from a combination of side feed troughs and floor feedareas to which feed is properly and continuously distributed from theinterior of the feeder as it is consumed.

These basic objectives are realized by a feeder comprised of a floorstructure having an elongated feed trough along at least one sidethereof, a baffle wall extending lengthwise of the floor structure andangling downwardly and outwardly towards the feed trough, a horizontallyextending feed accumulating floor segment located between the outerextremity of the baffle wall and the feed trough, and an upright sidewall structure extending lengthwise of the feeder and having an openbottom portion located between the feed trough and the feed accumulatingfloor segment, the open bottom portion of the side wall structure beingsized to accommodate the heads of livestock to thereby permit livestockto feed from the side trough as well as from the aforesaid feedaccumulating floor segment.

The aforesaid open bottom portion of the side wall structure of thefeeder is advantageously divided into a plurality of verticallyextending, I animal feeding spaces by a plurality of horizontallyspaced, upright bar members located at the juncture of the feed troughand the feed accumulating floor segment. The vertically extending animalfeeding spaces defined by the upright bar members at the open, bottomend of the side wall structure are located within larger feedingcompartments formed along the length of the side feed trough by aplurality of upright, horizontally spaced divider plates extendingtransversely of the feed trough and terminating at their inner ends atthe junction between the feed trough and the feed accumulating floorsegment.

A further beneficial aspect of my invention resides in the constructionof the feeder in the form of a wagon which may be quickly and easilyassembled from floor and side wall subassemblies, and which includes adivider baffle assembly disposed centrally of the floor structure of thewagon and having a pair of oppositely inclined side walls anglingdownwardly and outwardly towards a pair of feed troughs extending alongeach side of the floor structure. In this preferred embodiment of theinvention, a horizontally extending, feed accumulating floor segment islocated on each side of .the wagon between the outer extremity of one ofthe inclined baffle side walls and one of the feed troughs. Livestockfeeding from the side troughs may project their heads through an openbottom portion of each of the side wall structures of the wagon to feedoff the flat, feed accumulating floor segments, the feeding action ofthe livestock from the flat floor segments interiorly of the wagonserving to assist in the continuous, downward movement of fibrous feed,such as silage and hay, downwardly and outwardly towards the side feedtroughs in cooperation with the guiding action of the divider baffleassembly.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will becomereadily apparent as the following description is read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals have beenused to designate like elements throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top, perspective view ofthe feeder of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the feeder of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical section view of the feeder taken along lines 3-3 ofFIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, Ihave shown in FIG. 1 a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of thelivestock feeder of this invention. The feeder takes the form of anelongated, rectangular shaped receptacle or hopper having a main floorstructure generally designated by reference numeral 1.. Althoughdesirable for field use, but not necessary, the feeder is constructed asa feed wagon having front and back wheels 2 and 4 mounted on front andrear axles upon which floor structure 1 is supported. Rear axle 6 isshown, in FIG. 3. Extending lengthwise of the feeder are a pair ofchannel beams 8 and 10 which are affixed to the top of the wheel axlesas by welding, and which serve as base support means for the floorstructure 1. As may best be understood by reference to FIG. 3, a pair ofchannel shaped stringers l2 and 14 forming an integral part of side wallstructures hereinafter described rest on top of channel beams 8 and 10in conforming relation thereto. Bolts 13 are utilized to attachstringers 12 and 14 to channel beams 8 and 10. It is to be noted thatchannel beams 8 and 10 project forwardly and rearwardly of the front andrear axles to which they are attached, but do not extend the entirelength of the feeder structure, as is indicated the fact that channelbeams 8 and 10 do not appear in section in FIG-3. To providesupportsurfaces for portions of both side wall and floor structures, channelshaped stringers 12 and 14 are formed to the particular shapes shown inFIG. 3 so as to include inner flange strips 12a, 14a and outer, inclinedflange strips 12b, 14b.

The floor structure further includes a plurality of horizontally spaced,transversely extending floor beams or cross ties 16 of right angle shapewhich are secured to flange strips 12a, 14a by means of bolts 18.Transverse floor beams 16 are located at spaced apart positions alongthe length of the feeder structure. Removably resting on top of thefloor .beams 16 are a pair of elongated, horizontally extending floorpanels 20 and 22 which serve as feed accumulating floor segments and asfeeding surfaces in a manner hereinafter explained. At their inneredges, floor segments 20 and 22 are engaged and held in place by a pairof elongated, generally Z- shaped strips 24 and 26 having lower,horizontally oriented receiving openings 24a and 260 which receive andrestrainably engage the spaced apart inner edges of floor segments 20and 22. Z-strips 24 and 26 extend substantially the entire length of thefeed wagon and are supported at spaced points along their lengths byfloor beams 16.

At their upper ends, Z-strips 24 and 26 are formed to include anglinghooked top sections 24b and 26b. The purpose of these hooked sections24b and 26b is to provide restraining support for a divider baffleassembly disposed substantially centrally of the floor structure andhaving a pair of oppositely inclined side walls in the form of plates 28and 30 which angle downwardly and outwardly from the apex which theyform, in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. At their upper ends, baffleplates 28 and 30 rest against and are supported by the top of aplurality of upright posts 32 aligned along the length of floorstructure 1 substantially at the center thereof. Support posts 32 aremounted on transverse floor beams 16, and supportably engage the topedges of baffle plates 28 and 30 at their upper ends. Either a weldjoint, or a threaded fastening connection may be utilized to attachbaffle support posts 32 to floor beams 16. In the embodiment illustratedin FIG. 3, the lower ends of support posts 32 are threaded, and areinserted through floor beams 16 for attachment thereto by means of nuts34. Baffie plates 28 and 30 are held firmly in place against supportposts 32 by an elongated channel cap 36 which rests on the top of baffleplates 28 and 30 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. The upper,reduced diameter threaded ends 31 of support posts 32 extend throughchannel cap 36 and are tightly secured thereto by means of nuts 38,whereby the upper ends of baffle plates 28 and 30 are tightly securedbetween channel cap 36 and the upper ends of support posts 32.

It will be appreciated that the particular arrangement and use ofZ-strips 24, 26 and upright support posts 32 provide a very simple andquick way to assemble the floor structure and divider baffle assembly.After Z- strips 24 and 26 are attached to floor beams 16, floor segments20 and 22 are quickly put in place by simply sliding them into positionalong the top of floor beams 16, with their inner edges inserted withinthe lower, horizontally extending receiving openings 24a and 26a ofstrips 24 and 26. With upright support posts 32 attached to floor beams16, removable baffle plates 28 and 30 are then placed in the inclinedpositions shown in FIG. 3 with their lower edges restrainably engaged byangled, upper sections 24b and 26b of Z-strips 24 and 26, and with theirupper edges engaging the tops of support posts 32. Channel cap 36 isthen positioned and tightened on top of baffle plates 28 and 30.

Extending along opposite sides of the feeder are a pair of substantiallyupright, side wall structures 40 and 42. These two side wall structuresare of identical construction, and have an upper, solid wall portion 44which includes a wall segment 44a which inclines upwardly and outwardlyfrom the interior of the feeder. This wall structure arrangementincreases the interior volume of the feeder by making it wider, and addsstrength to the side wall assemblies. The lower, inner edges of upperside wall portions 44 are formed to provide inwardly projecting lips 44bwhich extend substantially over the entire length of the side wallstructures. Lips 44b, in cooperation with channel stringers 12 and 14located directly thereunder, define therebetween open, bottom portionsof the side wall structure 40 and 42 which serve a purpose hereinafterexplained. The side wall assemblies or structures 40 and 42 furtherinclude upright end plates 46 and 48 at each end of the feeder which arewelded, or otherwise secured at their inner ends to channel stringers l2and 14. Solid, upper wall portions 44 are secured between end plates 46and 48, as by welding, utilizing angle iron strips 50 extending alongtheir upper edges. Formed along the upright, inner edges of end plates46 and 48 are channels 52 and 54 which serve to slidably receiveremovable door panels 56 and 57 at each end of the feeder. Cleaning orservicing of the interior of the feeder is easily accomplished-byslidably removing one or both of the door panels 56 and 57.

Strength and rigidity is imparted to the entire feeder structure, andparticularly to side wall structures 40 and 42, by tying these side wallassemblies together by a center tie bar 58 extending therebetween.Center tie bar 58 is bolted to weld plates 59, which are welded toaligned portions of upper side wall portions 44. Also, at each end ofthe feeder or feed wagon, tie bars 60 and 62 are bolted between therespective, aligned end plates 46 and 48.

The open bottom portions of side wall structures 40 and 42 are dividedinto aplurality of vertically oriented, animal feeding spaces defined byhorizontally spaced, upright bar members 64. Bars 64 are affixed attheir upper and lower ends, as by welding, to side wall lips 44b and tochannel stringers l2 and 14-, respectively. Located immediately outsideof bars 64, along opposite sides of floor structure 1 are a pair ofelongated feed troughs defined by inclined trough walls 66 and 68.Troughs walls 66 and 68 preferably take the form of removable, elongatedpanels, which may be made of wood, extending over substantially theentire length of the feeder. The side feed troughs 66 and 68 are dividedinto a plurality of feeding compartments by a plurality of upright,horizontally spaced divider plates or partitions 70 extendingtransversely thereof. Partitions 70 extend from the outer edges of sidefeed troughs 66 and 68 to inwardly disposed points along channelstringers 12 and 14. The upper edges of partitions 70 are angled toconform to the angle of inclination of inclined wall segments 44a of theupper side wall portions 44, and are assembled in abutting relationtherewith. In this manner, inclined side wall portions 44a, which extendoutwardly over the side feed troughs 66 and 68, are strengthened andreinforced by upright partitions 70. A pair of rounded, tubular bars 72extend along the outer edges of each of the side feed troughs 66 and 68and are welded to upright partitions 70. Extending between tubular bars72 and channel stringers l2 and 14 are a plurality of horizontallyspaced flat, metal bars 74, which serve as base, support elements forthe side feed troughs 66 and 68. Metal bars 70 are preferably welded attheir ends to tubular bar 72, and to inclined flange strips 12b and 14bof channel stringers 12 and 14, as most clearly appears in FIG. 3.Tubular bars 72 are formed along their inside surfaces to provideinwardly disposed, flattened upper edges 72a on which the outer edges ofside trough panels 66 and 68 are slidably supported. Trough panels 66and 68 are installed by simply sliding these wooden panel sections underthe bottom edges of partitions 70 on top of metal bars or strips 74,with the opposed side edges of trough panels 66 and 68 being supportedon the flattened, inner edges 72a of tubular bars 72 and on inclinedflange strips 12b and 14b of channel stringers 12 and 14. End cross bars76 and 78 mounted across the end extremities of floor structure 1, andextending outwardly over side feed troughs 66 and 68 in the manner shownin FIG. I serve to hold removable trough panels 66 and 68 in place underpartitions 70.

In its preferred form as a feed wagon, the feeder structure preferablyincludes a tongue 80 at its forward end attached to a channel shapeddraw bar member 82,

which is secured to the front axle of the wagon. A hinge pin connector84 is preferably used to attach tongue 80 to draw bar 82, as isillustrated in FIG. 1.

The feeder as described and disclosed herein is designed primarily forstoring and distributing fibrous type of 'feed such as silage, baledhay, cubed hay, chopped hay and loose hay to cattle. Feed storedinteriorly of the feed wagon between upright side wall structures 40 and42 is continuously directed outwardly towards feed troughs 66 and 68 byinclined side walls or plates 28 and 30 of the divider baffle assembly.Partitions or divider plates 70 are spaced apart horizontally asufficient distance to provide relatively large feed compartments alongthe length of side feed troughs 66 and 68, from which two or threecattle may feed at one time. Trough partitions 70 are of sufficientheight and width to not only visually block feeding animals from eachother, but also to serve as effective wind breaks to keep wind fromblowing feed in troughs 66 and 68 lengthwise of the troughs. The spacesbetween upright bars 64 are of sufficient width and height as to permitan animals head, particularly the heads of cattle, to be insertedtherethrough. The distance between partitions 70 is greater than thewidth of the feeding spaces between adjacent bars 64, and preferably,the feeding compartments between adjacent partitions 70 are of a widthequal to the width of at least two of the feeding spaces betweenadjacent bars 64. Thus, cattle can not only feed from external, sidetroughs 66 and 68, but may also insert their heads between bars 64 so asto be able to consume feed from the substantially flat, horizontal feedareas defined by floor segments and 22. For this purpose, floor segments20 and 22 are located between the outer extremities of inclined bafi'lewalls 28 and and feed troughs 66 and 68. Inclined baffle walls 28 and30, being directed downwardly and outwardly towards feed troughs 66 and68 and towards floor segments 20 and 22, will thus serve to guide feedinto troughs 66 and 68, as well as onto floor segments 20 and 22 as feedis consumed by animals from both of these feeding zones.

Upright bars 64, being located along channel stringers 12 and 14defining the juncture line between feed troughs 66, 68 and feedaccumulating floor segments 20, 22 effectively serve, not only as partof the side wall structures separating the inside of the feeder fromexternal troughs 66, 68, but also advantageously divide the lower, openportion of the side wall structures 40,

42 into a plurality of smaller feed spaces permitting limited access ofthe heads of cattle to the interior of the feeder, and to the feedaccumulating on floor segments 20 and 22. This double feed zonearrangement utilizing side feed troughs 66, 68 as well as internal, feedaccumulating floor segments 20, 22 not only provides additional areas onwhich feed may accumulate, and from which it may be convenientlyconsumed by animals, but also beneficially contributes to the desired,continuous distribution of feed from the upper portions of the feeder,downwardly along divider baffles 28 and 30 towards feed troughs 66 and68. The latter benefit is realized by the feeding action which takesplace inside of upright bars 64 from feed accumulating on floor segments20 and 22. As animals feed from this internal feeding zone, they tend towork the feed downwardly from the upper zones of the feeder towardsbaffles 28, 30 and floor segments 20, 22. Thus, this feeding actionwithin the main storage space of the feeder internally of side wallassemblies 40, 42 promotes the downward andoutward movement of fibrousfeeds, such as silage, baled hay, chopped hay, etc., which otherwisetends to hand-up and accumulate on upper, solid side wall portions 44.

Although I have shown and described my feeder in the form of a wagonhaving a centrally disposed baffle I assembly directing feed towardsfloor feed segments and a pair of side feed troughs located on oppositesides of the feeder, l contemplate that the beneficial features of myfeeder could be achieved utilizing only one side feed trough, and asingle, inclined baffle located along one side of the feeder andinclined downwardly and outwardly towards the side-mounted feed trough.I anticipate that these and other changes and modifications may be madein the size, shape, and structural arrangement of my feeder withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A livestock feeder comprising:

a floor structure terminating along its opposed sides at a pair ofelongated feed troughs extending longitudinally of said floor structure,each of said feed troughs having a base wall for holding feed; dividerbaffle assembly supported on said floor structure substantiallycentrally thereof and having a pair of oppositely inclined side wallsextending longitudinally of said floor structure and angling downwardlyand outwardly towards said pair of feed troughs from the apex of saidbafile assembly, the outer, longitudinal bottom edges of said side wallsterminating at said floor structure inwardly from the inner,longitudinal edges of said base walls of said troughs; pair ofhorizontally extending feed accumulating segments of said floorstructure located on each side thereof between said outer, bottom edgesof said inclined side walls and said inner, longitudinal edges of saidfeed trough base walls; and pair of substantially upright side wallstructures supported on said floor structure and extendinglongitudinally of said feeder along opposite sides thereof, each of saidside wall structures having an open bottom portion divided into aplurality of vertically extending animal feeding spaces defined by aplurality of horizontally spaced, upright rigid members forming aportion of said side wall structures with their bottom ends engagingsaid floor structure, said rigid members being located at the junctureline of said inner edges of said feed trough base walls and the outer,longitudinal edges of said feed accumulating floor segments, wherebylivestock feeding from said troughs may project their heads through saidopen bottom portions of said side walls structures between said uprightmembers to also consume feed from said feed accumulating floor segments.

2. A livestock feeder as defined in claim ll wherein: said feed troughsare divided into a plurality of feed compartments by a plurality ofupright, horizontally spaced divider plates which extend transversely ofsaid feed troughs from the outer edges thereof to inwardly disposedpoints at the juncture lines of said feed troughs with said feedaccumulating floor segments, said divider plates being horizontallyspaced apart by a distance at least equal to two of said feeding spacesbetween adjacent ones of said upright bar members.

3. A livestock feeder as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the inner edges of said feed accumulating floor segments are spacedapart from each other and are received and held within a pair ofelongated, generally Z-shaped strips having lower receiving openingswithin which the inner edges of said feed accumulating floor segmentsare contained, and each of said Z-shaped strips having an upwardlyangling top section which restrainably engages the bottom end of one ofsaid oppositely inclined side walls of said baffle assembly.

4. A livestock feed wagon comprising:

a floor structure supported on axle and wheel assemblies and terminatingalong'at least one side thereof at an elongated feed trough extendinglongitudinally of said floor structure, said feed trough having a basewall for holding feed;

a baffle wall supported on said floor structure and extending lengthwisethereof at a laterally spaced apart location from said feed trough andangling downwardly and outwardly towards said feed trough with thebottom edge of said baffle wall terminating at said floor structurelaterally inwardly from the inner, longitudinal edge of said trough basewall;

a horizontally extending, feed accumulating floor segment of said floorstructure located between said bottom edge of said baffle wall and theinner edge of said feed trough;

an upright side wall structure extending lengthwise of said feeder andhaving an open bottom portion located between said feed trough and saidfeed accumulating floor segment, whereby livestock feeding from saidtrough may project their heads through said open bottom portion of saidside wall structure to also consume feed from said feed accumulatingfloor segment, said open bottom portion of said side wall structurebeing divided into a plurality of vertically extending, animal feedingspaces by a plurality of horizontally spaced, upright bar memberslocated at the juncture line of said feed trough and said feedaccumulating floor segment; and

a plurality of upright, horizontally spaced divider plates extendingtransversely of said feed trough and separating said feed trough into aplurality of feed compartment, said divider plates terminating at theirinner ends at the junction line between said feed trough and said feedaccumulating floor segment, and said divider plates being horizontallyspaced apart by a distance greater than the width of said feeding spacesbetween adjacent ones of said upright bar members.

1. A livestock feeder comprising: a floor structure terminating alongits opposed sides at a pair of elongated feed troughs extendinglongitudinally of said floor structure, each of said feed troughs havinga base wall for holding feed; a divider baffle assembly supported onsaid floor structure substantially centrally thereof and having a pairof oppositely inclined side walls extending longitudinally of said floorstructure and angling downwardly and outwardly towards said pair of feedtroughs from the apex of said baffle assembly, the outer, longitudinalbottom edges of said side walls terminating at said floor structureinwardly from the inner, longitudinal edges of said base walls of saidtroughs; a pair of horizontally extending feed accumulating segments ofsaid floor structure located on each side thereof between said outer,bottom edges of said inclined side walls and said inner, longitudinaledges of said feed trough base walls; and a pair of substantiallyupright side wall structures supported on said floor structure andextending longitudinally of said feeder along opposite sides thereof,each of said side wall structures having an open bottom portion dividedinto a plurality of vertically extending animal feeding spaces definedby a plurality of horizontally spaced, upright rigid members forming aportion of said side wall structures with their bottom ends engagingsaid floor structure, said rigid members being located at the junctureline of said inner edges of said feed trough base walls and the outer,longitudinal edges of said feed accumulating floor segments, wherebylivestock feeding from said troughs may project their heads through saidopen bottom portions of said side walls structures between said uprightmembers to also consume feed from said feed accumulating floor segments.2. A livestock feeder as defined in claim 1 wherein: said feed troughsare divided into a plurality of feed compartments by a plurality ofupright, horizontally spaced divider plates which extend transversely ofsaid feed troughs from the outer edges thereof to inwardly disposedpoints at the juncture lines of said feed troughs with said feedaccumulating floor segments, said divider plates being horizontallyspaced apart by a distance at least equal to two of said feeding spacesbetween adjacent ones of said upright bar members.
 3. A livestock feederas defined in claim 1 wherein: the inner edges of said feed accumulatingfloor segments are spaced apart from each other and are received andheld within a pair of elongated, generally Z-shaped strips having lowerreceiving openings within which the inner edges of said feedaccumulating floor segments are contained, and each of said Z-shapedstrips having an upwardly angling top section which restrainably engagesthe bottom end of one of said oppositely inclined side walls of saidbaffle assembly.
 4. A livestock feed wagon comprising: a floor structuresupported on axle and wheel assemblies and terminating along at leastone side thereof at an elongated feed trough extending longitudinally ofsaid floor structure, said feed trough having a base wall for holdingfeed; a baffle wall supported on said floor structure and extendinglengthwise thereof at a laterally spaced apart location from said feedtrough and angling downwardly and outwardly towards said feed troughwith the bottom edge of said baffle wall terminating at said floorstructure laterally inwardly from the inner, longitudinal edge of saidtrough base wall; a horizontally extending, feed accumulating floorsegment of said floor structure located between said bottom edge of saidbaffle wall and the inner edge of said feed trough; an upright side wallstructure extending lengthwise of said feeder and having an open bottomportion located between said feed trough and said feed accumulatingfloor segment, whereby livestock feeding from said trough may projecttheir heads through said open bottom portion of said side wall structureto also consume feed from said feed accumulating floor segment, saidopen bottom portion of said side wall structure being divided into aplurality of vertically extending, animal feeding spaces by a pluralityof horizontally spaced, upright bar members located at the juncture lineof said feed trough and said feed accumulating floor segment; and aplurality of upright, horizontally spaced divider plates extendingtransversely of said feed trough and separating said feed trough into aplurality of feed compartments, said divider plates terminating at theirinner ends at the junction line betWeen said feed trough and said feedaccumulating floor segment, and said divider plates being horizontallyspaced apart by a distance greater than the width of said feeding spacesbetween adjacent ones of said upright bar members.